98 test positive for COVID-19 after House mass testing —SecGen

Ninety-eight individuals in the House of Representatives have tested positive for COVID-19 after the chamber conducted mass testing, House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said Tuesday.

In a statement, Mendoza said that the 98 persons comprise nearly 5% of the 2,000 House lawmakers and employees who underwent RT-PCR testing from November 10.

It is not clear for now, however, how many of these individuals are lawmakers and House personnel.

“It’s the first time a mass testing was conducted in the House since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March, and this happened less than one month after Speaker [Lord Allan] Velasco assumed office,” Mendoza said.

“Speaker Velasco ordered the mass testing to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the Batasan Complex, while the legislative chamber carries out its constitutional duties amid the pandemic,” he added.

According to Mendoza, almost all of those who tested positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

“All those who tested positive were directed to self-isolate to avoid passing the virus to others and immediate tracing of their close contacts was conducted,” he said.

The chamber is currently in coordination with the Quezon City government to conduct more extensive tracing for the contacts of the COVID-19 positive individuals, Mendoza said.

At the same time, the testing laboratory that the House commissioned has reported the cases to the Department of Health, and the chamber's in-house medical service has been coordinating with concerned Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams, he added.

Before the mass testing was conducted on November 10, more than 80 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the House.

Almost all of these cases have recovered, except for three employees and two lawmakers --- Senior Citizens party-list Representative Francisco Datol Jr. and Sorsogon Representative Ditas Ramos --- who died from the disease.

Mendoza explained that the increase in the number of cases could be expected as the COVID-19 testing in the House covered everyone, not just those who manifest symptoms.

“Because it was mass testing for all officials, employees and guests entering the Batasan Complex, we caught even the asymptomatic cases who could be transmitters if we didn’t find out they were COVID positive,” he said.

For now, strict health protocols are being implemented in the House to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its offices and buildings, Mendoza said.

Lawmakers and employees also undergo regular testing especially when going inside the plenary hall.

The House also requires visitors to present a negative COVID-19 test result first before being allowed to enter the offices in the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

They are likewise mandated to wear masks and face shields, pass through thermal scanners and disinfection machines, observe physical distancing, and submit an accomplished health declaration form before entering House premises. --KBK, GMA News